WASHINGTON --
Nearly half of immigrants facing deportation are now winning their cases before
an immigration judge.

Their success rate is
the highest in more than 20 years, according to data released by the Transactional
Records Clearinghouse at Syracuse University, which collects and studies
federal prosecution records.

The
data shows that the U.S. government has been losing more deportation cases each
year since 2009.

It
does not say how many deportation cases the government successfully appeals.

Immigration
supporters accuse the Obama administration of deporting too many people, but
Republicans say the president is too lenient on immigrants living in the
country illegally.

Nearly 2 million immigrants have been removed by U.S.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement under President Barack Obama.